Michael Strahan: 'Cheap shot' hits by QBs on defenders are 'chicken'

Former Pro Bowl DE Michael Strahan took aim at the league's quarterbacks from his perch as an analyst in the Fox studio today.

Strahan complained that there's a disturbing trend of quarterbacks hitting defenders with dirty hits this season that he said could end with a career-ending injury if it's not curtailed.

"Nothing angers players more than a cheap shot, whether legal or not," Strahan said. His commentary was sparked by Browns QB Brady Quinn's low hit on Terrell Suggs last Monday that drew a penalty and a $10,000 fine. Suggs also missed Sunday's game with the Colts with a knee injury.

"Lately it's as if quarterbacks had a secret meeting before the season, and they all decided to take out a certain number of defenders," Strahan said. Jets QB Mark Sanchez (vs Saints' Jonathan Vilma) and Vikings QB Brett Favre (vs. Texans' Eugene Wilson) also have been fined for hits on defenders this season.

Strahan also said there's a double standard applied by the NFL in adjudicating hits. "If a defensive guy lays a finger on a quarterback, there are penalties, there are fines, there are memos from the league office, a national uproar," he said. The former Giants defender said if the trend continues, a defensive player is going to suffer a career-threatening injury.

"We're all in this together," he said,"don't go down low at a guy's knees when he's not looking." -- Sean Leahy

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate